(A/N: The rating has risen to PG-13 for implied sexual situations. Time to go mushy again. To quote Moulin Rouge, "It's about LOVE!" Deal with it. I do not write lemons, but it's not like I could with the new no NC-17 rule. Which I believe is bullshit, but hey, that's my worthless opinion. I also gave you a little bit of background on Felair and Minele. Just a leetle. If you wanna know more, you'll just have to wait for the whole series to finish. (See my bio for info on that). I suppose these next lyrics to ponder need no introduction. How Deep is Your Love by the Bee Gees. *bows down* I'M NOT WORTHY!! Sorry, I was raised on oldies. And the ever so godly Just Like Heaven by the Cure. Rock on.)
Chapter Thirty-One: Pasts, Pacts, and Passion
"Please tell me?"
"No, Legolas. Check, Grandpapa."
Elorelei was bent over a small board with checkered blocks on it. Over it, in a certain fashion, she moved pieces. It was some sort of mortal game her grandfather enjoyed called chess.
"It teaches logic and strategy." He explained while coaxing her into trying it. "The pieces I played with moved on their own, but I haven't had the time to do that myself. Those mortal sorcerers enchanted the silliest things. Once I ran across a flying stick, with bristles on the end. Called it a broom."
Legolas remained in the dark about Elorelei's wicked plans, but sometimes he caught her plotting in the halls with Fenra. He sometimes tried to tell himself he didn't want to know, but ended up pleading with Elorelei anyway.
"You'll see," She had told him, and left it there.
Legolas ran all this information over in his mind while the two elves, far different in age, but not intelligence, sat hunched over this small wooden board.
"Checkmate," said Lumaeus, not exultant, but not gracious, in his victory. "But you did have me for a moment."
"Yes, but too short a moment, I'm afraid," She smiled good-naturedly, then stood up to leave. The Western Prince wanted a go at the game, but he also wanted some time alone with Elorelei. It had been nearly impossible lately. Be it at night or early morning, everyone seemed to have an occupation for her. Though he had his own reasons for wanting her to slow down, he couldn't help but feel worried that she was running herself ragged.
So he was adamant, when he caught her as they left the chess game, that she take a break.
"Break? Break from what?"
Legolas folded his arms. "You know from what, Lori. All this training business is getting to be too much. You're didn't get any sleep until dawn this morning. Please, just go easy for half a day, at most."
Elorelei stared back at him, not ready to give up yet. "Okay, give me two days."
Legolas shook his head no. "This evening."
"Tomorrow."
"Deal," He said immediately. "I hate bargaining with your for your own well-being."
Elorelei tossed her hair (which was more difficult than it looked) and made a small noise of mock indifference. Legolas grinned and was about to comment (rather rudely) but Vandelar stepped up and interrupted.
"Forgive me, Laika and Prince Legolas, but Minele has... taken the bait." The Prince had never seen Vandelar so happy. Then again, the elf knew he was about to see a great spectacle.
Elorelei bowed and her face became a mask of unreadable emotions. "Thank you, Vandelar. Please bring me my weapons and I will begin."
He nodded and left.
*~*~*~*
Legolas walked beside Elorelei, matching her steady pace. While her outer self was calm, inside, her body was like liquid lightning. She absolutely couldn't wait for this moment. She had been waiting for it for many years. She'd never forget what she learned about Minele that one day, and now everyone would know.
Fenra waiting outside, guarding the gates of the small courtyard against those who didn't belong. He bowed when he saw Elorelei approached. "She awaits Laika, with her supporters as well."
Elorelei nodded. "Good. I want them to see this." She wasn't sure if she could keep herself in control. Vandelar came and escorted her and Legolas inside, but the Prince seemed to have faded into the background, a harmless spectator.
Minele was seated in an intricately carved chair. Her three supporters surrounded her with various degrees of pride and fear etched into their faces. Elorelei didn't bother with her usual glowering, but glided in an unnerving way to the center of the room.
It had been set up like an interrogation. The one chair seated at the center, with other seats hovering near it. The courtyard was dark for the time of day, as the evening was just emerging from its afternoon cocoon, spreading its wings of twilight over the land. The young she-elf was silent, focusing all her attention on keeping herself steady while this happened. As she planned, Minele made the first move.
"You can drop your façade, Elorelei, there are no secrets that I can't see behind your eyes."
Oh, but there are. So many secrets that I wish I could tell. "You see nothing except what you want to see, Minele. Even the sightless would know you are blind." It was not an insult, simply a fact.
Minele didn't see it that way. "Words will not harm me, Elorelei."
"My name is Laika to you. Only family calls me Elorelei."
"Need I remind you that I am still your mother?"
The air started to grow thick Elorelei's hate and anger... She had waited for almost all of her life for this opportunity. This simple idiot would not destroy it. "Of course you don't have to remind me... because you were never my mother."
The other elf's skin paled considerably and her supporters began to look worried. Minele tried to hold her ground. "Don't-don't try your petty mind tricks," She stammered. "You're getting off topic. You and Legolas-"
"Legolas and I have nothing to do with this."
"Liar! The whole court knows what you-"
"The whole court knows what you tell them, dissembler... The only liar in this room is YOU." Without raising her voice, Elorelei let the insults and the accusations slide smoothly off her tongue and into the room of stunned spectators.
Legolas felt a chill travel slowly up his spine. A random warrior of Elorelei's shut the door, knowing how very personal this was about to become.
Minele's skin was paling by the moment. "Silence..." She hissed. "I don't know how you found out about that, you wretched child, but if you tell, I swear will-"
"YOU-WILL-WHAT?" screamed Elorelei, exploding quickly and suddenly. "Do NOT think I'm scared of you, Queen Minele... As if you could ever-"
Minele jumped up. "SILENCE, I order you!" Her voice was heightening, flying into a panic.
"Only the Queen has the power to order. Not her imposter, not her copy, not her... placeholder."
The other elf's skin began to turn almost totally white with fear.
Elorelei smirked, feeling the familiar rush of power and pride. "Something the matter?"
"You're going to tell them?" Her voice had become afraid, almost pleading, in a way.
Elorelei's smirk evaporated. "Tell them? No... but show them... Ah, actions speak louder than words. And magic…… oh, magic is a silent art that speaks like the volumes of time…… and rest assured that I am VERY skilled at magic."
"You can't..." Everyone tensed at these words.
Slowly, the former princess drew her sword. "ANY wise elf, any REMOTELY intelligent elf would know better than to speak those words to me..."
Quaking in horror, Minele sank into her chair. "Please don't..."
Holding the sword high, Elorelei looked at Minele with contempt, but inside her, she felt pity. This poor elf actually thought that she was worth killing. Legolas stood aside nervously, preparing to interfere if he had to. She didn't advance on Minele, or retreat, but struck the sword against the hard stone floor, the crack thundering off the walls... until they began to shake... The shaking didn''t stop, but grew stronger and the vibrations seemed to sink deeper into their bones.
Everyone was on the verge of panic, as they were sure this wasn''t normal. Legolas wasn''t concerned for himself, but for Elorelei, who was twitching and jerking, holding her eyes shut against some inner battle. When she opened them, her once entrancing eyes were skull white and beamed out rays of red, making her look almost demonic.
Horrified, Legolas tried to move, but the violent shaking of the room prevented him from moving more than a few steps. Even with all his graceful elven ways, he couldn''t get to her.
Then, all at once, the vibrating stopped. The courtyard was quiet, as if the violent earth-shaking had just not occurred…… It was then that everyone noticed that the courtyard had disappeared.
They were in a different place, a bedroom, it looked like. Legolas realized it was Elorelei''s room, only much different. Dresses had been thrown in a pile on the floor, all of them torn or completely filthy. Books about archery were strewn everywhere, in varying conditions. Several looked brand new, others looked as if they had been read until the covers were falling off. A little child was sitting on the bed reading one of these books and looking worriedly at the door that led out into the hallway. She didn''t seem to notice that several fully grown elves were standing right in the room with her.
"Elorelei?" said Legolas, confused.
The girl sighed and sat her book down. She looked restless, as if something curious was nagging irrirtantly at her. She was very obviously a young Elorelei, about 300 years old (or ten in mortal years), and was waiting for something to happen. Then, suddenly, Eli walked in, startling them all to various corners of the room.
"Okay, Elorelei? Would you like to come practice on your healing technique?"
She shook her head. "I'll just wait for the baby..."
Eli sighed. "It'll be a while, Lori..."
"I'll wait."
The elf left her alone, but as soon as he was gone, Legolas noticed that familiar sneaking spark in her eyes.
The little elf peered out into the hallway, but Eli was totally gone. Her heart began to race with anticipation. She pulled out a very old book from under her bed. It was thick and dusty with age, the title reading "Thought Magic." Shoving this into a large scarlet bag, she ran into the hallway, the troupe of elves she couldn't even see followed her.
"Hope this works." She muttered, opening the book to a certain page, reading something very swiftly. She stared intently at the door and it slammed shut and apparently barricaded itself. Elorelei gave a little "YES" of victory, shoved the book into the bag, then turned and ran down the hallway, her small feet not making a sound on the richly carpeted floor. Vandelar and Legolas followed her, stepping almost as lightly as she did.
She led them around for almost ten minutes, most of those minutes were spent avoiding guards and servants. Finally, she came upon the room she wished to enter, just around the corner. There were several guards standing in front of it. Supposedly, Minele was in there, giving birth to the new baby. Elorelei just couldn't believe that. She pulled the book back out and hunched down right at the corner, reading. Legolas tried to read over her shoulder, but she shut it before he could get very close. Closing her eyes, she focused again. The invisible elves and the guards all snapped their heads to look down the opposite hall as a short cry was heard.
"Was that the princess?" Everyone asked, except Elorelei, who was smiling. She did it again, and they all ran off, leaving only one guard at the door.
Elorelei swore. "Ugh……" She looked in the book again, and then peeked around the corner. The guard was still standing there, motionless. Too motionless.
She dashed up to him and simply pushed him aside. Legolas was stunned. She had frozen him.
She ran inside and shut the door so quickly, that her invisible followers found themselves tumbling through the wall. Straight. Through. The. Wall.
Fenra nearly opened his mouth to cry out, but he stopped himself. "Great Valar, is this all magic?"
"No……" Vandelar said quietly. "We're in her memory."
With a hushed silence, they looked at the little princess, who was staring fitfully at the door. After she decided the guards weren't going to follow her, she ran down the hallway leading to the birthing room. There were short cries coming at intervals, but it was not Minele's voice.
She stopped short in front of a partially opened door. The light cast a tall, thin beam that Elorelei was standing just an inch from. Her father's voice was whispering in a soft tone; a tone he normally reserved for his daughter. It was soothingly loving. He never spoke to Minele that way.
Suddenly, the harsh voice of the woman Elorelei believed to be her mother interrupted. "Felair, can't this move any faster? The guards are suspicious."
"SHUT UP!" The King ordered, his voice filled with resentment. It reverted back to the sweet, soft tone so quickly, he sounded like a completely different elf. "Miki? Darling?"
"I'm okay, Felly," The voice was panting and tired. "He's less difficult than Elorelei was..."
The woman's face was hidden from view, but Elorelei noticed a dark ringlet of hair. It was the same color as hers. She examined it with a shocked look.
Felair smiled and pushed the long dark hair out of the elf woman's face. "Thank Valar for that..."
"My KING-"
"Quiet! I'll not tell you again! Your sister, MY WIFE, is trying to-"
But the elf on the birthing bed interrupted Felair's reprimand with a loud scream.
The voice of Elorelei's grandmother was heard sighing and laughing slightly with relief. "Here's your boy, Felair. A very healthy child, just like her last one."
Felair kneeled and kissed the woman on the forehead. "I'm glad I was here for this one..."
"Good, when can she leave that child and get out of here?" Minele again. "As if her worthless brat daughter wasn't causing me enough stress..." There was more, but it was not heard by the eavesdropper.
Elorelei clamped her hands over her mouth to hold in her scream. The woman on the bed was her mother... the real queen... Her world was spinning, swirling, blinding her while she could still see. Her lips softly formed the words that voiced everything running through her mind.
"Why?"
Why was her mother's true identity kept from her? Why did Minele take this elf's place? If this one was born here, why wasn't she?
Unable to take anymore, Elorelei dashed back down the hallway, burst out from the door, knocking over several guards as she went. She didn't care anymore. They would keep quiet to keep their jobs. How would it look if the young princess had gotten past their seemingly unwavering guard? No, she didn't have to worry about them.
Her invisible comrades followed her all the back to her room, where the door swung open even without her hard focused look. It seemed as if her emotions merely blasted it open with the shock of her discovery.
Minele was not her mother. That was it's own small comfort.
But if that was not her mother, who was? Who was that elf on the bed? Would she ever know?
Without so much as a ripple, the elves that had observed this young child's trauma, appeared back in the courtyard. Not even a shift in air alerted them to this, it simply happened.
Minele was crouched on the ground, with Elorelei holding her with the point of her sword. The elf was a pathetic sight to see, whimpering and crying at her "daughter"'s feet. Legolas walked up to Elorelei, encasing her in a warm hug, forcing her to lower her sword.
"You can tell your little support group... that this worthless brat daughter will here no more or your trash and your lies. And you will hold your tongue in court. And you will never give my family one slight of grievance. Or I will make you regret it. Valar help me, I WILL make you regret it."
Minele nodded, but saw the expectancy in Elroelei's eyes. "I will do as said... but I'll never tell you who she is..."
The warrior stiffened.
That was all Minele needed.
"Never," She repeated, malice drowning out all of her graceful elvish quality that she treasured so much.
*~*~*~*
"Elorelei," Legolas talked softly. He didn't want to make her hysterical, though he doubted he could. She was stony and her face was gray. Minele would never threaten her adopted daughter again... but Elorelei would also never know who her real mother was. The decision had been made and the pact sworn. To break the said pact was to sign your own death warrant, which neither elf had any desire to do.
Elorelei sat down on the bed, and placed her face in her hands. "I want to take a walk," She said through her slender hands. Legolas's expression went from worried to something softer.
He reached out and held both her hands, pulling them from her face and planting a warm kiss on them.
"Very well. Let's take a walk."
*~*~*~*
"I shouldn't have done that." She scolded herself. "But I had to... I couldn't let her get away with anymore-"
"Elorelei, you don't need to justify what you did. Relax."
She muttered something unintelligible, but didn't say anymore. Legolas smiled, enjoying the undemanding silence of her company. The walk was taking them farther down into the forest, along the strem for a while, then back into the woods. It was getting dark, but Elorelei had her eyes closed, trusting Legolas to guide her. That's what it was all about. Trust. Her simple, solid trust in him, and his in her.
Eventually, after she realized Legolas had not been walking for some time now, ELorelei opened her heavy eyes. "Where's are we?"
"The springs," He replied, resting his forehead on hers. "I thought you could use it, to calm your nerves."
She smiled warmly at him, feeling something like... security, but deeper. He owned her heart, and was guarding it with his life.
He left her on her own, promising to return soon, while she undressed and slipped into the water. Credit she had to give him, for Legolas knew her well. Her reaction to the warm water was almost instantaneous. Her hair was soaked through until it became as soft as silk, encircling her already warm body in a blanket of the velvet. She swam up and down the springs, for she loved to swim, and remembered fondly the first time she dove into the springs as a child. Her mind wandered off into its own little world so that she scarcely noticed anything around her. She was humming idly to herself, sitting on a low, flat rock seated under the water, and thoroughly rinsing her hair to get it clean. Legolas watched her for a full ten minutes before he realized he would have to bring her back to reality.
"Having fun?"
She grinned, in her current recumbent position, but didn't move. "Yes, very much so." She looked at him, her eyes sparkling with giddy at her abandon of everything. Her cares had melted off into the water. Her shells and barriers and defense mechanisms that kept so many out were all but gone as she laugh and dove under the water, hidden from Legolas's watchful eyes.
"Hey, no fair," He insisted. "Come out where I can see you."
"Come in where I can see you." Her voice was almost daring him.
The mood of the place was rubbing off on him. He looked down into the steamy water and saw a pair of flashing green eyes watching him. "The lady's request will be granted." He joked, disappearing from her line of sight. For a moment, she waited, but after a while, she began to get curious. Her head fully emerged from the water and she looked around, starting to worry.
"Legolas?"
"Behind you."
Whirling around to face him turned out to be a very good bad idea. Immediately after she was fully turned around, she was assaulted by his strong arms traveling around her. By his steel blue eyes that seemed to call out for her. By every piece of his soul that was so completely in love and so lost in the reckless, wild moment of spontaneity. How could she have left him? Hopelessly, she tried to recall what would've caused her to leave someone so... well... there was no way to describe him. He was just for her, and that was all she knew. Even with.....
Her thoughts floated away on a cloud of steam as Legolas captured her instantly and entirely. His lips found her jaw, her cheek, every depression in her neck, not roughly but not quite gently, either. Elorelei closed her eyes to the sensation of his body; satin skin stretched over firm, sinewy muscle and power and passion and energy. Discreet kisses had transformed into something she wouldn't, or couldn't, describe. In the most convenient definitions, Legolas made her feel that nothing in the world could touch her except for him. She was his love, and was therefore, his life.
All that may be said as for the rest of the night, is that Minele's rumors were no longer entirely false...
(A/N: Yes, dudes, I used the ideal setting. A steamy body of water. I am, in truth, a hopeless romantic. So SUE me. By the way, I'm glad this turned out this way, you would not BELIEVE the fights that wemt on between what Inspiration wanted to write, what my fingers wanted to write, and what my brain wanted to write. It was chaos, I say. CHAOS! Damn that was long, but we're winding it down, kiddies. It'll all be over soon...)